Prehistoric shark had chainsaw-like 'tongue'

Researchers have pieced together what the vicious Helicoprion shark would have been like.

The unusual denizen would have lived in Earth's oceans 270 million years ago and was unlike any shark we see today. By studying fossils of its spiral set of teeth, researchers have discovered that Helicoprion would have sported a bizarre chainsaw-like 'tongue' of razor sharp teeth that could slice through its prey with ease. The animals would have been more closely related to today's chimeras or ratfish than modern sharks.

"We were able to answer where the set of teeth fit in the animal," said study author Leif Tapanila. "They fit in the back of the mouth, right next to the back joint of the jaw. We were able to refute that it might have been located at the front of the jaw."

"Imagine a 25-foot-long shark, but instead of having a typical set of jaws, it packs a chainsaw-like ‘tongue’ full of razor-sharp teeth ready to slash through prey with ease."

That is going to give me nightmares!!
It's going to come knock on my door under the guise of flower delivery or (more likely) pizza delivery and when I open the door it's going to lick me with that chain saw tongue!! Arrhg! Land shark!!